Bahrain: Lawyers sent to protect workers’ rights

By Soman Baby

Lawyers have been sent out by the Labour Ministry to protect the rights of workers at a strike-hit construction company. The move comes after the ministry brokered a deal to send 1,800 strikers at G P Zachariades back to work. The men have pledged to go back to work today, in return for the company promising to properly review wages and conditions.

US: two major unions endorse Obama

By Jonathan Tasini

Two major unions–Service Employees International Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union– made national endorsements for Barack Obama. This is huge in many respects for Sen. Obama’s campaign.

Protection of domestic workers: the ITUC supports proposed ILO Convention

Already grouping over one hundred million workers worldwide, the largely female domestic labour force is continuing to grow in line with the rising demand for these services. Whilst contributing to improving the quality of life and living standards of others, domestic workers themselves remain confined within an invisible and very poorly protected segment of the labour market. Although a vital link in the economic chain, they are often deprived of their basic rights and confronted with exploitation and ill-treatment.